Monday, June 8th, 2009 at 8:00 am  |  50 responses

SLAMonline Mock Draft: Ty Lawson, No. 17

Philly lands another productive guard.

by Franklyn Calle

With the 17th pick in the 2009 SLAMonline Mock Draft, the Philadelphia 76ers select…

Ty Lawson. Yeah, I know what some of you might already be saying… “He’s too short!” “He’s injury prone!” Well let me tell you this. This guy has the heart of a lion. And do I have to remind anyone that he is the ’08-09 ACC Player of the Year, the first time a point guard won the honor since Tar Heel Phil Ford in 1978?

Andre Miller is now a free agent and negotiations can’t begin until July 1. Right now it’s uncertain whether he will be returning to the city of brotherly love next season. Taking into consideration the uncertainty at the guard position, if there is a great Ty Lawsonguard available, there shouldn’t be a argument as to who we should draft.

At 5-11, Lawson can drive to the basket just as good as a 6-4 guard. He possess just about everything an ideal true point guard should. He’s unselfish. His court vision is second to none. His passing skills are top notch. He has exceptionally well ball handling skills. He’s just as quick as anybody on the draft board. Sits on the body frame of a line backer. He flourishes when playing in transition. He’s very effective when shooting off the pass. He cuts to the basket and gets in the passing lane as well as anyone. The bottom line is that Lawson’s potential is unlimited.

Now there are a few things that the Maryland native needs to work on. He needs to strengthen his midrange game as well as shooting off the dribble. But overall the former Tar Heel is ready to make an immediate impact at the next level.

Even if Miller signs with the 76ers this summer, I believe Lawson is the right way to go, considering Miller turned 33 this past season and injuries or a simply slow down are possible effects. Even with Miller on the roster and on the floor, Lawson will be a great contributor to an already fast-paced game led by the two Andres, Miller and Iguodala.

Lawson led the University of North Carolina to an NCAA National Championship after withdrawing his name from the 2008 NBA Draft on the day of the withdrawal deadline last year in June. The Second-Team All American was the second leading scorer for the Tar Heels averaging 16.6 ppg while shooting 53.2 percent from the floor, including a team high 47.2 percent from behind the arc. He did a excellent job distributing the ball, averaging 6.6 apg.

After already making it clear to everyone that we are going to draft a guard, we invited five guards last Friday to watch them workout. Aside from Lawson, the 10 a.m. workout included Toney Douglas of Florida State, Stefon Jackson of Texas-El Paso, Jodie Meeks of Kentucky and Terrence Williams of Louisville.

For the last two seasons, we ranked last in the NBA when it comes to three-point shooting. Lawson has the highest three-point accuracy of all the prospects we’re considering.

Now don’t get me wrong, we need to sign Miller. That’s one of our primary objectives for the summer. Miller and Iguodala are the reason we made it to Playoffs. But if things don’t go as planned, we need someone who can handle the heat. And Lawson has proven he likes to perform when the lights are on. I’m pretty sure Philly fans will appreciate the incredible work ethic.

2009 SLAMonline Mock Draft Results
Pick Team Player
1 L.A. Clippers Blake Griffin
2 Memphis Grizzlies Hasheem Thabeet
3 Oklahoma City Thunder Ricky Rubio
4 Sacramento Kings Brandon Jennings
5 Washington Wizards Jordan Hill
6 Minnesota Timberwolves Demar DeRozan
7 Golden State Warriors James Harden
8 New York Knicks Stephen Curry
9 Toronto Raptors Tyreke Evans
10 Milwaukee Bucks Jonny Flynn
11 New Jersey Nets DeJuan Blair
12 Charlotte Bobcats Terrence Williams
13 Indiana Pacers Earl Clark
14 Phoenix Suns Jrue Holiday
15 Detroit Pistons B.J. Mullens
16 Chicago Bulls Sam Young
17 Philadelphia 76ers Ty Lawson
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  • jdstorm

    First…

  • niQ

    interesting, sounds like alota point guards..

  • niQ

    in philly

  • niQ

    in philly..

  • niQ

    interesting.. sounds like a lot of point guards, in philly…

  • ronak

    regarding above comments: i think we get it.. (im assuming the comment box is screwing up again)

    i’ve got no qualms with lawson

  • sixersforlife_85

    I’m happy with this pick.

  • sab

    interesting… sounds like a lot of point guards in philly…

    btw, “proofreading” – Franklyn, if you wanna be a writer one day, you might wanna try it…

  • thesubwayconnection

    What happened to Lou Williams?

  • sixersforlife_85

    What do you mean a lot of point guards in philly? Have you seen our roster? Andre is more or less gone unless we really pay out, Lou is a shooting guard and Royal Ivey is the only other point on the roster. In fact even Igoudala was playing point for us this season late in some games. If we don’t pick a point in this draft then there will be riots.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Cub Buenning

    Although, I was a bit of a hater before the season, Ty showed big stones all year long and he was the difference between the Heels winning a nat’l title and getting whacked by Gonzaga in the Sweet 16.
    Good value pick here,as Ty is a guaranteed 10-15-year pro that will be a quality back-up or spot starter.

  • sixersforlife_85

    thesubwayconnection – the best I can hope for from Lou is that he ends up slightly better than Willie Green. This is not good.

  • http://slamonline.com Ben Osborne

    Dope logo.

  • http://slamonline.com/ Ryne Nelson

    Almost every year, at least one player from the college national championship team goes in the Lottery. It’s almost too predictable, but it’s interesting how Lawson, Hansbrough and Ellington all pretty much have little chance of going that high. I wonder why that is…

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  • Khalid Salaam

    not sold on this pick at all. i like lawson well enough but i was leaning more towards eric maynor. b/c if if draft lawson you’re not gonna be able to play him and lou williams at the same time. defensively its just too much of a disadvantage. i’d like to see the sixers give andre miller a 3 year deal (team option on that last yr tho) and let whatever pg we draft learn from him. we need a sg too btw…

  • Khalid Salaam

    ……and since we need a sg arguably even more than a pg, if the sixers draft lawson they gotta get a big one. 6’5 and up just so the backcourt will have some balance. and btw big, talented guards arent just fallin out the sky. while if we draft maynor the sg size won’t matter quite as much. whether thats in the 2nd rd or via trade getting a sg is vital .

  • http://mynameinblue.blogspot.com Hisham

    I would say that at 5-11, it is not very likely that he has the court ‘visibility’ of say a Yao Ming. I think you meant court vision.

  • LB

    Pick makes sense, if the Sixers fully commit to going uptempo. Lawson’s got some real jets, so he’ll fit in nice with all those athletic wings (Igoudala, Young, Williams), and athletic bigs (Dalumbert, Speights) they’ve got there. The bigger question to me is how Elton Brand will fit in their scheme.

  • http://slamonline.com/ Tzvi Twersky

    Khalid, Dre will never take that deal. He wants 3-4 yrs. no team option. Otherwise, I think the 6ers should go with Maynor as well. They need a C, too, though, cause Sammy sucks.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Cub Buenning

    Kha, I have EMaynor in my lottery, so I fully agree that he would be THE pick here. (Ssshhhh, us, the Dallas Mavs pick in a few days) Although, like I said, Ty is still a solid pick.

    Drafting should be based on philosophy/what GMs like in players as apposed to current roster make-up.

  • http://blogs.myspace.com/originadro Witness

    Free Speights!

  • Declan

    Speaking of Sixers, why is Thabeet getting drafted so high when draftexpress has his best case as Sammy D? I know their not 100% right but they have a good idea, thoughts anyone?

  • niQ

    wow. sorry for the spam, it didn’t show my first post so i thought i had to repost. apologies.

  • niQ

    and sixersforlife_85. that makes sense. i just figured that andre miller would stay, but if he leaves, then this pick would help them a lot.

  • Khalid Salaam

    Tzvi, i know that dre miller wants 4 years but this is where GM’s gotta make their money. i mean damn, stefanski needs to work this out. we just can’t let him walk otherwise we’re really screwed. Cub, can you explain your philosophy regarding like vs current roster when it comes to drafting? i see value in both mindsets but i lean more towards current roster when you’re drafting at pick 17 like the sixers are doing. I think its best to find pieces that compliment instead of just picking random talent. i think a lot of teams go wrong that way

  • Young C

    I have to disagree with this pick. Although Miller could leave, we really need a SG/SF more than we need another young point guard. Andre is a free agent but, unless he’s willing to settle for the mid-level exception(or do a sign & trade), its not really likely that he’ll leave. And even if he does leave, we do have options via trade and free agency

  • Young C

    Point guard/combos like Jamal Crawford, Jamaal Tinsley, Steph, and Ramon Sessions may be available via trade and/or free agency. Besides, the Sixers are in win-now mode and I dont think a rookie point guard can lead this team back to where they need to be. Instead this pick should be Gerald Henderson or Chase Budinger. Worry about a point guard later if Andre leaves.

  • Young C

    When Thad Young went down for two weeks with an ankle injury, it really exposed or lack of depth at the swingman positions. And if I have to watch another 82 game season of Willie Green starting, Im gonna gouge my eyes out. We need a Shooting Guard!

  • Quail

    Lou Williams is already better than Willie Green. hes a fast mofo and when he has room, he can shoot. but he’s not a point guard. hes and undersized 2 guard.

  • J-Gunna

    @ Ryne Nelson…technically…the 17th pick isnt a lottery pick, 1-15 are lottery picks

  • http://www.hibachi20.blogspot.com BETCATS

    Free Maurice Speights and Thad Young

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    FREE THAD YOUNG. THE KID CAN PLAY!

  • http://Didyouknowthelakerssigntherefschecks?.com nbk

    @j-gunna – Ryne didn’t say it was….try some hooked on phonics

  • http://nationofmillions.ca ciolkstar

    Philly has got to get Dre Miller walk, he’s too old, turnsthe rock over too often for a “vet” with no explosive play making ability to speak of, and only has old man post moves left. I love Lou, but he’s really at his best attacking the rim and getting his, not trying to create opportunities for teammates. I guess Lawson works here, I’m still not a believer. He’ll be nice in the open floor with Young Thad and Iggy but if he can be a consistent 3 point shooter for Philly he could be just what the doctor ordered.

  • http://nationofmillions.ca ciolkstar

    Yeah, I’d DEFINITELY take Maynor here over Lawson.

  • http://nationofmillions.ca ciolkstar

    I really like the idea of a sign and trade for Ramon Sessions. That kid is gonna takeover if he gets a legit chance to run a team next season. He has good size at 6-4″ and a knack for creating easy shots for teammates. Really, the Sixers will never be great as long as Iguodala is their go to guy in crunch time. They need a SG who can actually shoot, and Thad has a much higher upside at SF than Iguodala does. They’ve already committed so much $ to Brand (foolish) that he has to be a part of their team for the next 5 years or so, so the PF is locked up. EB cannot defend Centers so lets just dead that talk about him playing the C next to Thad at PF and Iggy at SF. That is a tny front line and they don’t have the shooting to make it reasonable…

  • http://myspace.com/2grownup2beshownup Jack

    I got a better idea, trade up and get Stephen Curry (3-point shooter needed big time) and then bring in AI through free agency.

  • http://slamonline.com/ Justin Walsh

    Franklyn, excellent blog banner logo, it’s a good look. As to the pick, you had to take him at 17, that’s a good value

  • Bro. D

    Hmm, short, injury prone, great college career PGs. Like Khalid El Amin and Mateen Cleaves? How did they work out in the NBA? Even so, I can see Lawson in Philly.

  • http://www.myspace.com/weezyleezy337 Weezy F. Leezy

    best player available for sure

  • Enigmatic

    Well, I wouldn’t say his potential is “unlimited”. The kid’s not gonna be Derrick Rose or Chris Paul, but he’ll be aight.

  • Hee Chang Yang

    Lawson is a bust…… Anyone can see it from a mile away!!!!!

  • http://slamonline.com/ Franklyn Calle

    Thanks Justin. I think that was the best way to go in my opinion. If Miler doesn’t come back, then who’s going take over at the point?? Lou Williams is no where near a point guard. Even he knows that he is a shooting guard. Lawson is a pure point guard. They don’t have anybody in that roster that can pick up at the 1 position. They finished last in 3-point shooting the last two years & Lawson is almost a 50% shooter from behind the arc. Lawson with Igoudala and Young can turn into a pretty good nucleus if developed right. Just my opinion.

  • http://www.kb24.com The Seed

    Bust!!

  • DARRELL GAILS

    I think i would be a good pick by Philly but by picking a pg that means you give up on Lou Williams who needs minutes. The 2 is his natural position but Lou would dominate at the 1 with proper coaching. At the end of the day Lawson will be a 10-12 year productive starter somewhere let Lou W grow

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